We have been to Italy every year for the past 5. (Thanks everyone for all your help in planning ALL 5 trips)I don't think I can break away from Italy so I would like to add to it. We have two weeks at the end of July and I was thinking possibly renting villas or apts in two different places and day trip or stay overnight if needed. We will be with 2 or 4 teen girls so one sea or lake location would be good. Maybe Lake Como and Switzerland (haven't been to Switzerland in 26 years)or Croatia, but I'm worried it might be too hot there. My youngest wants to go back to Venice so that would be incorporated in the plan. I would love any suggestions.

It would help giving advice if you tell where you have and haven't been and what the group's interests are.

Hi Howard, We usually meet friends in Rome and travel on from there. We have been to the Amalfi Coast, Venice, Florence, Siena, Lucca, Cinque Terre, SM, Porto Venere, Stresa and the hill towns in Sothern Tuscany. I don't mind revisiting places in Italy because we all love it so much. Last Sping we went to London and Paris and that would be about it. For a good plan we could probably give up on Italy...Sigh. My only concern is the heat, so I guess Spain is out. We were in Praiano 2 summers ago, no a/c and it was just too, too hot!

From Venice you could visit Slovenia. Porec is a nice little coastal fishing village and Lake Bled is a beautiful lake in the mountains.

We just got back from Emilia Romagna and the Veneto. I'm still working on a trip report, but I have posted some photos from the trip at:
http://www.rozault.com/Italy2005

Maybe that will give you some idea of whether any of those places would appeal to you. There are some nice day trips around the Venice area.

We did like Bologna, and I think the university ambience there would appeal to teenagers. Not sure how hot it is in the summer, but at least the porticos would give you a lot of shade.

I'll agree with nonnafelice about Bologna. I think it's one of Italy's underrated and unheralded gems. (Great photos, nonnafelice!) Visiting Bologna, Ferrara, Parma and Ravella would make for an interesting week.

I have heard that Slovania is beautiful. I'll look up Porec this evening.

Nonnafelice, great pictures thanks. I also take pictures of dogs and food. A town with a university would be appealing. Have you ever heard of Rimini? It isn't far from Bologna on the sea. I was there in college and have good, but very faded memories. It might be a good base.